Pro Drills: Building Bottom-Up Coverage
- Build pad coverage from the bottom up because tight-to-the-net chances come in low and off-balance, making ice-level sealing critical.
- Maintain a flush knee-to-ice contact throughout lateral movement to eliminate inside ice exposure near the post.
- Drive lateral movement through the hip — not by extending the lead skate — to keep the knee down and preserve the low seal.
- Progress through three pucks: an initial save, a quick rebound stop, and a lengthened extension, each requiring continued flush coverage.
- Add the glove hand in support as the pad lengthens to build vertical coverage upward above the pad.
Ian Clark calls it “flushing,” and this drill is part 3 of a progression the Vancouver Canucks goalie coach uses to help his goalies build their bottom-up coverage.
Clark went over video of Canucks No.1 Thatcher Demko working on this drill during their one-on-one sessions ahead of training camp this season, but it’s one we’ve seen him do before.
As you’ll see in the video example below, it starts with three pucks set up above and around the crease and the goalie on their knees near the corner of the crease at the post. They start with Demko moving from above his right post and across to his glove side:
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